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Looking Back and Looking Ahead – Good things are happening!
My Journey So far…
The way we humans envision time is a funny thing.
When I start looking back I am often surprised at how much, or how little time has actually passed.
And, if you will pardon a wee bit of bluntness, I’m often surprised by the huge amount of CRAP that I’ve been through!
No wonder my face has some tread marks on it because life done run me over! Several times!
In the colorful vernacular of present times: Life be like — “Boy you done been Bitch Slapped!”
Life is getting Better! Way Better!
If things keep going on their current trajectory, then 2016 is going to be an amazing, stupendous, exciting, fabulous year!
It may, indeed turn out to be the best year of my entire life.
Wow!
The truly amazing thing is that my focus has shifted.
I’m no longer focused on the “here and now” locked permanently into “survival mode;” I find that I am only looking “back” to measure how far I’ve come and/or to explain to friends when they ask me “where have you been hiding?”
My focus is firmly pointed toward the future. A quick rundown of the exciting things that are happening:
- I’m loosing weight! Yay!
.. - As of this morning I weigh 294.6 — that is a total of 40.4 lbs lost from my highest weight of 335 lbs.
.. - My health is improving on almost a daily basis. My stamina is up. I’m moving more.
.. - I’ve started dancing again!
- I am back in the studio practicing.
- I’ve started teaching line dance again — lots of stuff happening there; more on that later in this post.
- I’ve started an Instructor Training program at a local studio and as soon as I finish that program I’ll be put on staff teaching couples dancing, both Ballroom and Country — THIS IS FRIGGIN’ HUGE!
- I’ve been put on staff at one dance event already for the coming dance year, 2016, and I’m likely to be put on staff at several others!
- I’m planning on competing this year in Line Dance!
- I’m beginning to choreograph line dances and will be competing in Line Dance Choreography this year.
…
Things are turning around. But to understand just how wonderful and much of a positive change these and other events and happenings in my life are, I have to go back in time and fill you in on how awful things were…
Long time readers of my blog will recognize bits and pieces of the story but you’ve probably not seen it laid out so concisely in one spot.
For my new readers, new “dance friends” I just made at Dallas Dance and at Worlds, and for my friends with whom I only recently reconnected…
…in the words of Bette Davis “Fasten your seat belts...”
And, uhmmm… you might want to hit “pause” and go grab a cup of coffee or soda and some snacks.
I never intend for my blog posts to be long. Stop laughing! It is true! I really do try to make them short, but somehow… sigh
Oh, well, it may be long, but it is without a doubt entertaining…and informative… Now git…go grab that beverage…
…back? Got your soda? Cool… here we go:
The date my life changed…for the worse
Looking back on one’s life, even on recent events, is much like using a crystal ball to peer into the future: the images are very VERY foggy!
Some events are Read the rest of this entry
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Today is a “Scary Day” and the importance of doing a single solitary “thing”
Brace yerself…! What I want… …and why is it a “Scary Day”…
Brace yerself…
…because I’m about to free associate and just let the thoughts poor out onto the page. That means, friends, neighbors, fellow dancers, that you are about to get a peek into Tony’s brain. Eeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkk!!!!! Or you may laugh so hard that there will be tears leaking outta yer eyes…
But either way, this post is going to be somewhat disjointed. And weird. And well.. just keep reading. 🙂
And pay no attention to the typos… ..or the grammar or lack thereof… …they just add character. 😉
What I want…
…is for lots of you to send me emails, comments, likes that all add up to “You can do this Tony! I believe in you!”
Yes, that is a blatant appeal for support, mostly emotional, seriously that kind of stuff means a LOT…
…but if you feel so inclined, buy something from my store or hit that donate button over to the right. No one ever has donated, but I keep hoping. *sigh*
Seriously, this month is the toughest financially that I’ve had in a long time. Lots of out of the blue expenses have made it hard to make ends meet.
Why is it a “Scary Day”?
Well this is where that free association thing is gonna start. Because I know I can be wordy…
*GASP* OK, ok, the thunderous shock of in-drawn breath from you, my faithful readers, was NOT necessary! 😉
Now, where was I?
Oh, yes….
…it is a scary day because today is Saturday and that means…
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Quick Status update and a Cool Video
I’ve been a busy boy…
…all “off line.” I’ve not been blogging because I’ve been working on setting up things for the coming year.
I have decided that 2014 is going to be the “year of me”.
Kinda like the “Year of the Phoenix” because after Aug-Sept of this year it certainly can’t get any worse!
Here is my goals for 2014 ranked by Priority:
- Get healthy
- Get fit
- Make enough money to pay my monthly living expenses and pay my “bills”
- Reducing monthly expenses
- Reducing debt load
- Try and remain self-employed
- Make enough money to be able to compete in dance again
More on all that over the coming days and weeks.
Here’s a cool video that I just ran across… It will blow your mind.
Watch all the way through for the “how it is done” at the end. Way cool!
See ya on the dance floor!
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“As the Boots Turn” Episode #4, Depression, Drugs and Medical Varmits!
[cue the music, cue the opening credits, cue the announcer]
We join the hero of our tale as he continues his quest, seeking answers that may not exist, seeking rest; seeking respite; seeking resolution of that eternal enigma:
“Is the glass half full or half empty?”
Previously on “As the Boots Turn” our hero had lost his job but had, in turn, gained the opportunity to rest and recover from the stresses imposed by that job and the horrid drivers in the badlands of the Dallas/Fort Worth highway system.
It appears that our hero is close to an answer, getting healthier every day and pursuing his dream of dance.
[cue dramatic surge in music, announcer’s voice deepens]
Will he succeed? Will he find the answers he seeks? What dangers await him? What fiends lurk in the shadows? Only time and a few commercial breaks will tell…
Time to rest… Time to think… Time to plan…
Time to dig myself out of a hole…
For those that are keeping track, yes, we’re still talking about Number Two (on the list) (That joke never gets old does it?) Kinda like farts. Farts have been funny since time began. Even the word “Fart” sounds funny. Now where did I put that T.P.? 😉
One of the first things that I had to do when I became unemployed was to visit my doctor, my Primary Care Physician.
“Why? Pray tell.” I hear the teeming mass of eight people reading this blog ask…
I’m glad you asked! 🙂
(Hey it’s my fantasy world and I have a great time there!) Read the rest of this entry
5-6-7-8 Dancing My Way to a Healthy Me! 